There is much truth to the saying that we’ve all heard since childhood which is “you get what you pay for.” Many of us, when purchasing fish and meat don’t get to see where it comes from. Prices generally reflect where an item is from and often times the quality of food you’re getting. Poke, a raw fish salad, when purchased at $10.99 to $14.99 there’s a good chance that it’s from the local waters in Hawaii, where as when priced at $4.99-$7.99 it’s probably from Asia. There’s places like Don Quixote (Holiday Mart) that have signs which tell you where your fish is from. Please view the video below issuing a Toxic Seafood Warning.
The Hottest Pepper Blog
March 30, 2010
Bhut Jolokia Smoke Grenades–OUCH!!! Go Indian Army!!!
Aloha Gang,
Well, by now I am sure a lot of you have heard about the Indian army getting approval to use the Bhut Jolokia pepper as the main ingredient in smoke grenades. They will be used as an anti-terrorist defense that will hurt but not kill. I am sure that it will be used to disperse crowds, force perts out of holed up locations, etc. I can tell you from first hand experience that it will work. Go get ‘em Indian Army–Bhut Jolokia rules!
During our harvest season, we sometimes harvest 1,000 peppers in a day. Each and every Bhut Jolokia pepper has the seeds taken out by hand. We wear 4 layers of vinyl gloves, a respirator, and long sleeve shirts. Further, there is a beach towel covering our laps. Those peppers are juicy and somehow, that hot,hot capsaicin squirts out everywhere when slicing the peppers open. The 4 layers of gloves lasts only about an hour before they have to be changed. What I am saying is that they are very dangerous and can give you an unbelievable amount of pain and suffering. During the harvest season, my friends don’t stop by, my girlfriend won’t get near me, and frankly, it’s a lonely, lonely time of year. I am toxic, and I leave a trail of Bhut Jolokia pain and suffering everywhereI go. It’s on every part of my body eventually, and I mean every part. Sometime at night and I writhing in pain as I try to go to sleep. Yes, the peppers have somehow gotten into my bed, and believe me that’s not funny. I wake up tired the next morning with dark circles under my eyes, wondering how in the world I got into this mess. I keep hearing the Oliver Hardy quote- “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.” But the problem is, I have gotten into it all by myself!
So, it’s the Bhut Jolokia pepper and the Indian army joining forces to keep the bad guys in check. So, throw those Bhut Jolokia smoke grenades and more power to the Bhut!
Keep those questions coming, and keep planting those Bhuts! And, if any of you out there make a Bhut Jolokia hand grenade, please send me a sample!
Jamie
March 28, 2010
Soak the Bhut Seeds Please
Aloha Everyone,
Mahalo for all of your questions. And best of luck with your newly germinating, or planted Bhut Jolokia pepper plants. Very good to hear that just about everyone is having great luck.
Hey, you two who did not soak the Bhut seeds overnight before germinating. You know who you are! You gotta listen to the old man. These seeds are a bit strange as far as germination goes. It helps tremendously to soak the seeds in water the night before. You will get faster germination and a higher percentage of success.
Out of all of the orders we have received, we have had only 2 instances of sub par germination. And that’s a tiny percentage of our sales. So, good for you. You are listening. Now soak those seeds!
March 25, 2010
Hot Peppers Help With a Diabetes Breakthrough!
Since childhood we have been told to eat our veggies, that an apple a day can keep the doctor a way, and just what and how we eat plays a monumental part in our well being. The other big portion to our equation of health, is how our bodies react and process various things that can either inhibit or activate certain ailments.
“In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body’s nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions..”
This study was first based on the structures of what happens within the body in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. In Type 1, which is usually first found in children or young adults, the body does not produce insulin. The most frequent form of diabetes is Type 2, where the body’s cells ignore insulin, or not enough is produced.
Scientists in Canada found that “diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Dr. Hans Michael Dosch, an immunologist at the hospital and a leader of the studies. “In my career, this is unique.” The substance in which was injected was ” Capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot chili peppers, to kill the pancreatic sensory nerves in mice that had an equivalent of Type 1 diabetes.”
The researchers are astonished at their findings but admit that there is much studying to be completed before human test subjects are introduced, but this marking event gives hope for the future that there could be a groundbreaking discovery to help millions suffering with diabetes.
To read the entire click here.
The immense list of health benefits that come from peppers are ongoing, visit our “fun facts” section for a little crash course on “hot food health info.”
Quality
Aloha Everyone,
Today I would like to discuss the quality of our products here at The Waimea Bay Chili Pepper Company. Here in Hawaii we have the luxury to be located in the Pacific Ocean 2,200 miles away from the closest continent. We have clean air, and clean water, and our soils are rich and loamy. Our climate is perfect, not too hot nor too humid, and we can wear shorts and a T shirt 365 days a year (if we wear the T shirt). Here on the North Shore of Oahu our temperatures range from about 72-85 in the winter and about 80-92 in the summer months. Of course, it does dip down into the 60′s every once in a while in the winter, and hits 95 once in a great while in the summer. But all in all, we have perfect weather, and clean, clear water.
At the Waimea Bay Chili Pepper Company, we are 100% organic. No chemicals of any kind. PERIOD. All of our peppers are pampered, and our peppers are picked at the peak of their ripeness. Our Bhut Jolokia peppers average at just under 900, 000 SHU (tested by HPLC) and I personally put our peppers against any and all comers for heat and taste, and size. Our Bhut Jolokia pepper plants produce more than 300 peppers each and are more than 6 feet high.
I have tested many of our competitors products and I am not impressed. I don’t bad mouth anyone, but I would like to know if anyone out there is actually getting a good product that is grown in the USA. So if you are, please email me and let me know where you are buying it, and I will order from that company to see what I think. And I don’t even want to talk about product from India. Enough said about that not to mention the chemicals they are using to grow the peppers. Remember, a lot of foreign countries are still using pesticides, and fertilizers that have long been banned in the USA.
Our peppers are the best plain and simple. They are hotter than any other peppers out there and they are grown with care and aloha. We are now working on a cistern that will hold our fresh, clean rain water. This rain water will then run through a charcoal filter and will be gravity fed into our gardens. Our peppers and other vegi’s in the garden will benefit from this as there will then be absolutely nothing unnatural in our water. The plants will grow faster, stronger and produce more fruit. I am so excited to see this come to fruition. And this cistern will also supply our drinking water. We are also getting bids now on solar heating so we can get off of the grid. We have had a solar water supply for 10 years and we are very excited to have new solar panels that will produce electricity.
Once again, quality is our number one priority. Our products are 100% guaranteed. Please read the testimonials on this site and please watch our videos. I am here to help in any way I can- growing tips, pest problems, etc. I welcome any comments, questions or suggestions.
Mahalo nui loa,
Jamie
March 22, 2010
Can I Freeze Peppers?
You ask them, Jamie answers them! Here’s another edition of Ask Jamie, with a wonderful question on freezing peppers.
Question
Hi, I heard about these peppers and have read through your website (and a few others). When is the time of year to be able to buy whole peppers from you ? My recipe for chilli is a bit warm (Jalapenos and Habaneros, I really prefer the Habeneros because I like the fruity taste of them (and also of course the heat). I would like to have a very hot version of my chilli using Habeneros and the Ghost pepper. Obviously I dont know how much to use and still be edible, I’ll have to use a little, and add small amounts until I get it where I want it.
A couple of questions:
1) When would I be able to buy whole peppers from you ?
2) Does freezing the pepper until used have an effect on flavor ? (I imagine yes, but not sure how much).
3) Since you are the experts on these peppers, any handy tips on how/how much to use ? (I am aware of the need to be careful – made that mistake with Habeneros once).
Thanks, and I’ll place my order after receiving your feedback (might get some powder for now since you are out of the actual peppers according to your site).
~JC Harris
Answer
Aloha JC,
Thanks for your inquiry. Just like the Habanero pepper, the Bhut Jolokia has a wonderful flavor. It also has an intense back heat. I cannot tell you how much to use as this is very, very subjective. You just have to experiment.
As far as the freezing goes, we pick our pepper when they are bright red, and very ripe. Not one pepper ripens in transit, or is picked before it’s time. They are then de-seeded by hand which is a huge pain in the butt. The peppers are then either, sun dried, or dehydrated. Then they are vacuum packed and frozen. You can re-hydrate them if you wish, and many of my customers do this.
I would purchase the pepper flakes and experiment with them. You are not going to be able to use the fresh peppers much anyway because they have to be diced so fine or you could hurt someone who eats a chunk. Not a nice thing to do.
We will have fresh peppers again around June 1st.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Jamie
Haiti Donation
A warm “Aloha” and “Thank You” to everyone who purchased product for the Haiti fundraiser. The Waimea Bay Chili Pepper Company will donate $1000.00 to the Red Cross for Haiti relief. There are still several hundred thousand people without homes and a lot of children are missing as well. I urge everyone who can spare any money to dig deep and donate.